A Bath woman admitted stealing her dead mother's Social Security benefits for nearly 20 years.

For nearly two decades, Frances Riley pulled money from the bank account where her dead mother had arranged for her Social Security benefits to be deposited.

When government workers checked to ensure that the money was reaching its intended beneficiary, Riley told them her mother was alive and living in England.

On Wednesday, Riley, 78, of the 6000 block of Nor-Bath Boulevard in East Allen Township, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Schmehl in Reading to a single count of conversion of government funds. The offense carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

Under the terms of her plea agreement, Riley is required to repay more than $152,000 to the Social Security Administration. Riley's sentencing is scheduled March 18.

Riley's mother, identified in court papers only by her initials R.A., died in February 1994, according to court papers.

After the mother's death, Social Security continued to deposit her retirement and survivor's benefits into a bank account, which Riley accessed via a debit card, the charges say.

Between March 1994 and July 2011, Riley received about $152,601 in Social Security benefits intended for her mother that Riley knew she was not entitled to receive, the charges say.

In July 2011, Social Security attempted to contact Riley's mother to confirm she was receiving her benefits. After initially telling government employees her mother was living abroad, Riley admitted that her mother was dead and that she had been collecting her mother's benefits.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration inspector general and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda R. Reinitz.